14th February 2024 21:27:48 Hours
Major General P.N. Godellawatta USP psc of the Sri Lanka Engineers (SLE), Additional Director of the Project Management Unit at the Defence Headquarters Complex, prior to his retirement after a landmark career of more than 33 years in the Army, arrived at the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, this afternoon (14 Feb), accompanied by his family members.
During the cordial meeting, the Army Chief praised the retiring Senior Officer for his dedicated services and performance of diverse and challenging responsibilities with unfailing commitment and selflessness. He also recalled the retiree’s invaluable sacrifices and roles during the height of the war against terrorism before May 2009, as well as his effective discharge of duties in the post-war scenario.
In return, Major General P.N. Godellawatta USP psc thanked the Army Chief for the invitation and expressed his gratitude for the guidance extended to him in the performance of his varied duties.
The Army Chief, while exchanging pleasantries with the family members present, commended the invaluable support given to the Senior Officer by his family members throughout his career, particularly during challenging times when he was engaged in operations to safeguard the motherland away from home.
Towards the end of the interactions, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage awarded a special memento to the retiring Senior Officer as a symbol of appreciation and commendation, along with a special gift to the family.
Here follows a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer:
Major General P.N. Godellawatta USP psc joined the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 03 November 1990. After completing military training at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy - Ratmalana and the Sri Lanka Military Academy - Diyatalawa in Intake KDU 8, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 14 November 1992 and posted to the Sri Lanka Engineers. Throughout his career, he held various appointments and steadily elevated to subsequent ranks, ultimately reaching the rank of Major General on 04 February 2024.
He held the office of Additional Director of the Project Management Unit at the Defence Headquarters Complex at the time of his retirement. He also held appointments such as Platoon Commander of 6 SLE and 7 SLE, Officer Instructor of the Officer Cadet Wing at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Squadron Commander of 6 SLE and 8 SLE, Staff Officer 2 (Officers’ Section) and Staff Officer 2 (Promotion Cell) of the Military Secretary’s Branch at Army Headquarters, General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of Task Force 8, General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of 68 Infantry Division, Staff Officer 1 (Administration) of the Regimental Centre of SLE, Commanding Officer of 7 SLE, Directing Staff of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Director Academics of the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Commander of 515 Infantry Brigade and Principal Staff Officer of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.
He has followed many local and foreign courses during his military career, such as Young Officers Course, Artillery Observation Post Course, Motor Transport Officers’ Course, Unit Administration Course, Unit Intelligence Officers Course, Battalion Support Weapons Officers’ Course, Law of Armed Conflict Instructors’ Training Course, Human Rights Instructor Training Course, Advanced Military Technology Familiarization Course, Army Command and Staff Course, Young Officers’ Course – India, Combined Officers Bomb Disposal Course – India, Mid-Career Course – Pakistan, International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) Level 3 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Course - United Kingdom, Engineer Command in Mine and Blasting Operations – China and Mainstreaming Gender into Community Based Disaster Risk Management Course – Kenya.
The Senior Officer also pursued a number of higher educational and non-military courses, such as Diploma in Human Rights at the Institute of Human Rights, Bachelor of Science (Defence Studies) in Civil Engineering at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy and Master of Business Administration in Logistics Management at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.
